Abstract

This thesis focuses upon Clyde River Inuit knowledge, concerns, and attitudes to community tourism development and protected area establishment. The findings suggest that a cross-section of residents have a positive attitude toward community tourism development because it may provide local economic benefits. Residents also support the Igalirtuuq Conservation Proposal because it protects the endangered bowhead whale and its critical habitat, while at the same time stimulating tourism development. Clyde Inuit are reluctant to attribute social and environmental costs to these initiatives but are, nevertheless, able to point out some specific negative impacts that such projects might have on their village. Most felt that few problems would materialise as long as residents were intimately involved in all aspects of a controlled and gradual development. The study illustrates the importance of this type of community oriented approach in providing guidelines for tourism and conservation area development policy makers. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)